Suggesting Change : The Situation of the English-speaking Minority of Quebec and Proposals for Change

Actions by the Government of Canada, such as the Speech from the Throne in January 2001, the nomination of Minister Stéphane Dion to coordinate the Federal Government's policy on official languages and chair the team of Ministers directly involved in Official Languages Policy and Program and his desire to develop an action plan to support the application of the Official Languages Act are encouraging. The demonstration of the political will of the Government to fulfill its obligation to ensure the full support of the development of vibrant and healthy Official-language minority communities throughout Canada is absolutely essential. It is, thus, incumbent on the Government that there is understanding and acceptance of the needs and realities of each linguistic minority community by both the majority populations and by those within the Canadian Government whose job is to develop and implement policy in support of the Francophone and Anglophone minority communities. The Official Languages Act must ensure the means and mechanisms for coordinated action and mobilization of the necessary resources to empower official minority language communities. As such, the action plan put forward by Minister Dion must be aimed at enabling the English-speaking minority in Quebec to build its own capacity, using solid facts and broad-based knowledge to be able to work with all governments to maintain and develop strong, vibrant English-speaking communities throughout Quebec.

Parallel title: Report to Minister Stéphane Dion, President of the Privy Council and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs